title: [Study on the consistency of reflux score evaluated by three different level of throat physicians].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The consistency of reflux finding score (RFS) was studied by three different level of throat physicians.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and ten laryngeal photos were chosen to assess the RFS test-retest reliability on two separate occasions at least more than one week.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean total RFS scores for doctor A were 9.05 ± 2.54, doctor B were 8.80 ± 2.20, doctor C were 8.98 ± 2.21 at the initial screening, and 9.20 ± 2.47, 9.03 ± 2.14 and 8.91 ± 2.30 respectively at the repeat evaluation. The test-retest reliability of total RFS scores of three doctors were 0.860, 0.800 and 0.837 respectively, P all <0.001. The test-retest reliability of each item scores for doctor A were from 0.662 to 1.000, doctor B were from 0.486 to 1.000 and doctor C were from 0.613 to 1.000. There were no differences in the total RFS scores comparing among each evaluation of the three doctors (χ(2) = 1.553, P = 0.907). Total RFS scores more than 7 were considered as abnormal. The interobsever consistency was as follows: A with B was 83.6% (κ = 0.617, P = 0.000), A with C was 85.5% (κ = 0.644, P = 0.000),B with C was 89.1% (κ = 0.720, P = 0.000). The intraobserver consistency was 91.8% (κ = 0.807, P = 0.000), 81.8% (κ = 0.534, P = 0.000), 90.9% (κ = 0.741, P = 0.000) respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The result of this study shows that the assessment of RFS is not influenced by different educational backgrounds and clinical experience.RFS can be applied widely in China.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Navy General Hospital, Beijing 100048, China.
authors.forename: Li-li
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Jin-rang
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Li-hong
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007830:Larynx; D009333:Neck; D010614:Pharynx; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index